People Over Profits!

Today in my Foreign Policy class, we approached the topic of outsourcing jobs. I have a lot to say on the subject, thus I left the class angry and with inspiration for this post. I personally believe that outsourcing jobs has everything to do with profits over people.

These companies and corporations move overseas and to Mexico because they do not have to provide their workers with benefits--including a living wage. It is only in the interest of profit. Nothing more. It has nothing to do with the fact that these workers may be harder workers or that the foreign country has natural resources that are more equipped for that industry. It is so that the heads of the corporations can make more money.

This comes at the expense of the middle class. Outsourcing destroys the middle class. Without these manufacturing jobs, Americans are stuck with two options: be wealthy or be a part of this service economy that serves the wealthy. And do not think for a moment that these people in the service economy can somehow become wealthy. Generally speaking, they cannot afford the education that will get them the jobs that could lead to wealth. Which should not be the case, but that is a subject for another time.

One of my classmates argued the point that the issue is not all black and white. His point was that corporations do not have to be socially responsible, because profit is the motivation for business, and that a lot of upper-middle class individuals may own stocks in these corporations and they will benefit from moves overseas.

Corporations do not have to be socially responsible? This notion is completely reprehensible to me. I cannot comprehend how corporations should have the right to pay their employees the least possible wage and not provide benefits so they can make a profit. If the company's trade is really that great, it will make plenty of profit while allowing the workers a decent living. But, I suppose greed is the American way.

As far as the stock issue goes, who will be hurt more by this? The people who do not make extra money on stocks because the company remains in America? Or the person who lost his job to someone in another country because the company and stock holders need to make more money? Both the stock holders and corporate heads will have a more than adequate living if the company stayed in this country. The worker will not have such a great living should his or her job be taken away so a rich person can get richer.

I admit that I am extremely biased. My father has one of these manufacturing jobs. While my family is far from wealthy, there is always food on our table, a roof over our heads that met building codes, insurance to allow us proper health care and every other basic necessity has been met. There were never a lot of extra and extravangant things while I was growing up, but all of our basic needs were met. If his job were to get shipped overseas, my family would economically fall apart while the CEO could buy another mansion in Europe. I think food and shelter are much more important than another mansion.

That is the problem with America and the world today. It clearly favours profit and greed over people and cooperation. I wish people would just see that the opposite holds true. People over profits!

Celebrity twins?

R.I.P. Hamtaro 2006-2008

My hamster died today. As sad as that is, I don't think anyone was surprised. She hadn't been running around her cage as much; she hadn't been running on her wheel as frantically.

People were never her favourite. The day I got her, she chewed her way out of the cardboard box the petstore gave me just before I got home. I didn't know what else to do, so I put her in the glove compartment thinking that I would be home in five minutes, so she would be fine. Five minutes later, I opened in and she was gone. I didn't want her to freeze in the Wisconsin winter cold, so I put a dish of food on the floor of my car and went to look for her every few minutes. After a couple of hours, she finally made it out. I kept trying to grab her, but she skillfully evaded my moves for quite some time. I finally got her in a cage and in the warm house.

Hamtaro wasn't very nice, but damn she was adorable. I miss that silly hamster.